Counsel may withdraw from a case by serving notice of withdrawal on his or her client and the State and filing the notice, provided that such notice is accompanied by notice of the appearance of other counsel. Unless this condition is met, counsel may withdraw from the case only by leave of court. A court order relieving counsel does not become effective until new counsel is appointed or the court determines that the defendant has expressly waived the right to appointed counsel, impliedly waived that right by conduct, or forfeited that right.
Me. R. Uni. Crim. P. 44B
Advisory Note – April 2017
Rule 44B is amended to include two additional ways in which a court order relieving counsel would become effective. See State v. Nisbet, 2016 ME 36, 134 A.3d 840.